"William and John Hayden (brothers) (SIC) came to America on the ship 'Mary and John' arriving at Dorchester, MA, in 1630. Their origins are reported to be near the borders of Somerset and Devonshire, England. William settled in Hartford, CT, around 1636 where he served in the Pequot War saving the life of Capt. John Mason in the fight of Mystic Fort. In 1642 he moved near to Windsor, CT, and served in Major Mason's Troop between 1657 and 1658. He finally settled at Killingworth in 1665."

origins

Jacobus suggested that William may have come from Hinton Blewitt, co. Somerset, England. Spear agrees, saying the idea that he was son of Gideon Hayden of Ottery St. Mary, Devon has been disproved. (He was identified earlier as son of Gideon of Ebford and Cadhay in Rev. William B. Hayden's "The Heydons in England and America", London 1877, p. 25.)